How could bioenergy work best for the Byron Shire?

Published on 30 October 2020

Council is asking the community to learn more and have a say about its proposed bioenergy facility which will break down the Byron Shire’s green waste into biogas and convert it into clean, renewable energy.

“Bioenergy offers a smarter, local waste solution which could reduce landfill and help Council to become carbon neutral”, Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson said.

“This project, whilst still in the feasibility stage, is exciting on so many levels because it is an example of a regional Council stepping up and taking control of its waste with the added benefit of using that waste to generate electricity and a valuable agricultural bi-product in the form of compost,” Mayor Richardson said.

“The type of bioenergy facility we are proposing is operating in many places around the world but this would be the first of its type in Australia,” he said.

Byron Shire produces around 20,000 tonnes of organic green waste a year with is sent to Queensland for processing.

Mayor Richardson said if successful, a facility at the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant would process the region’s organic green waste, including commercial organic waste, sewage biosolids and grease trap waste, and convert it into approximately 4 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity per year.

This would produce enough electricity to run the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant  with excess electricity to be sent back to the grid, creating a long term revenue stream for Council and ratepayers.

The remaining high nutrient residue would also be converted into a compost product to support the local agricultural industry.

“It offers an opportunity for a circular economy, where waste is eliminated and the green waste is recycled and returned to the soil, where the process starts again,” Mayor Richardson said.

“By creating renewable energy right here in the Byron Shire, and using our own green waste to fuel it, we can reduce landfill, get trucks off roads and work smart as a community to tackle climate change.”

The bioenergy project is an important step in Council’s draft Net Zero Emissions Action Plan, which is currently on public exhibition. Estimated to cost between $15-20 million, Council is currently submitting applications for Federal funding.

“By investing in this technology, Council will reduce its emissions, increase productivity of its sewage treatment plant, create jobs in the renewables sector and support the local agricultural industry,” Mayor Richardson said.

“Importantly, it will help fulfil our commitment as a Council to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2025 and sourcing 100 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2027,” he said.

For media enquiries contact Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator, on 6626 7320.